Could the trainers of the past learn from today's men?

They could learn more of combination punching.

 

Yes, but not really.

The way I look at it, a boxer is fundamentally "built" the same way, always has been - Shadowboxing, roadwork, heavy bag, sparring etc etc.

How a boxer applies these methods and develops as a result of them is down to the individual boxer. Advanced plyometric drills won't make the boxer - Weight-lifting won't make the boxer. These may improve the boxer slightly, but this can't be the foundation of their training.

I think if boxers are rated in every department on a scale of 1-100 for speed, power, footwork, conditioning etc, then MODERN training enhancements will only account for small improvements, say 3-5 points.

In other words comparing the conditioning of heavyweights, Marciano may be something like a 90 - Lennox Lewis may have been a 60 back in Marciano's era, but with the aid of modern training has added perhaps an extra "5" to his conditioning. But he's still nowhere near as well conditioned as Rocky.

This is my logic.

Therefore I would say they COULD learn something, but not nearly as much as they could TEACH

 

As far as techniques and skills, no. The boxers of yesteryear were much better at learning their trade, one big reason being they had better teachers. But I feel the old time trainers could benefit from today's modern nutrition and supplements incorporated with their old school teaching of the sweet science.

 

Very good analysis....
i believe there is nothing substantial what todays trainers could teach yesterdays FULL time trainers, except this vital tip..
How to make 5 times the dough today, by fighting 5 times less than the fighters of the past...
The old adage says "practice makes perfect",and the oldtimers fought numerous times more ,with full time teachers, and honed far better skills.
Another thing...The oldtimers fought 15 to 45 rounds, sans mouthpieces, almost every other week,without supplements etc...Wow, imagine if they used modern nutritional methods of today, they would still be fighting...
It's experience , by fighting often, against a greater pool of competition that makes one era better than another...Witness the two Golden Ages of boxing.....

 

Since the Golden Age, fof, CONDITIONING's become Space Age, but TRAINING (actual BOXING SAVVY) has regressed. Fewer 'n fewer Yodas 'n more 'n more clowns.

 

Fantastic!

 

I think all sports evolve and change and things can always be improved.

 

How's the teaching of boxing -- not conditioning -- improved? l

 

People are different now, so the approach has to be different. The mental preparation has to be approached differently especially when dealing with a professional fighter.
As far as the basic mechanics and motions of boxing, we've seen equipment and techniques change. You didnt see Eddie Futch holding pads, and now you have Nazim Richardson swinging towels and silly sticks at fighters to help with their reflexes and timing.

 

For conditioning and supplements, read drugs.

 

I still don't believe the modern nutrition BULL**** being perpetuated. the science might be 'correct' according to certain paramaters, but I don't see two superbly trained nutrionists athletes throwing 200 punches a round for 12 rounds, which if they were in such great shape they should be able to do.

as for skills being better- only one word suffices GTFO

 

See how it's changed, l, but missing how it's improved?

 

The trainers of today could certainly benefit from the knowledge of the old time trainers. Not the other way around. Old time trainers would make proper use of the latest technology rather than taking it for granted like some do.

With respect to Freddie Roach, Teddy Atlas, Kenny Adams, Tommy Brooks, and Manny Steward as one of the seniorist of the present trainers, I don't think there's anything that Blackburn, Goldman, Ray Arcel, Freddie Brown and Whitey Bimstein don't already know. Sure, they come from the old school of boxing thought, but technology IMO has made the sport lazy and the sport has relied too much on that. A lot of these coddled and protected fighters have a plethra of modern equipment and enough voices to tell them how to execute in the ring. Problem with that is, the guys teaching them how to execute, don't know what is right from wrong. I'm not dissing the trainers of today, but it seems that skills such as feinting, parrying, fundamental combinations and good footwork are sadly lacking skills. Fighters of today choose to watch too much video to find answers rather than watching or participating in a proper sparring session with a hard nosed trainer that won't take any BS. I see lots of hot shot stuff coming from trainers when the cameras are on, especially before a fight in terms of working the pads with their fighter. Maybe it's just me, but this is what I find is lacking in the sport now.